This section of Transitioning to a New School covers the following:

Transition to a New School

Tips for a Successful School Transition

Transition to a New School

Communicating with your child’s day care, preschool, or school about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder is an important part of the school routine. If you have been educating school staff about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder, you should continue to do this whenever your child goes to a new school. This includes going to a new preschool or elementary school.

If you move into a new community, you should meet with your child’s school staff and have more in-depth discussions. Remember, your Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) or local bleeding disorder organization can help educate school staff. For more information on talking to school staff and your rights in schools, please visit Engaging School Faculty and Staff, and Your Rights: Legislation and School Accommodations.

The tips below will help make going to a new school successful.

Tips for a Successful School Transition

Develop a Planning Timeline

In general, a good time to begin planning for a move to a new school is 6 months before the move. For elementary school, your child may have a plan to meet their learning and education needs, like an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Accommodation Plan. If your child has one of those plans you will want enough time to set up a meeting. If your child has complex special needs, you may want to start earlier.

Learn About the New School

  • Make an appointment to watch classes while they are happening.
  • Take note of accessibility and safety.
  • Ask for a copy of the student and parent handbooks and activities schedule.

Prepare Your Child for the Move

Introduce your child to the new school:

  • Attend school events or activities as a family.
  • Talk with your child about the new school and find out if they have any concerns. This will help to reduce any anxiety your child may have.
  • Arrange a school visit or attend an orientation. With your child, locate places like the restrooms, cafeteria, and the nurse’s office or health center.

Discuss Who Needs to Know About Their Bleeding or Blood Disorder

  • One of the biggest challenges when going to a new school is disclosure. Disclosure is letting people know about your child’s bleeding or blood disorder.
  • Right now, your child is becoming more independent. They are finding a unique identity and making new friends. This will affect if and how they decide to tell friends and classmates about the bleeding or blood disorder.
    • Some children are very open and readily tell friends about their bleeding or blood disorder.
    • Some use their knowledge about bleeding or blood disorders and their experiences for class assignments. This information can make for a great science project, health report, or personal essay.
    • Other children want complete privacy. They may want only the school nurse and administrators to know. They may tell only a few of their closest friends.
  • Be sure your child knows that you respect his or her decision about disclosure.
  • Remember: it's your responsibility to tell certain people about your child's bleeding or blood disorder in order to keep your child safe.